Water heater



' Nov.- 18, 1941, E, ESTES 2,263,031

WATER HEATER Filed March 26; 1940 ZZLESZ e3 Patented Nov. 18, 1941UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER HEATER Ezra L. Estes, Shawnee, Okla.Application March 26, 1940, Serial Naszeoso 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in heat transfer means such asmay be applied to water heaters, steam boilers, stills or the like, andsuch means is here particularly illustrated as applied to water heatersof the domestic and industrial type, but the principle used, may beapplied for the generation of steam.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedheat transfer means here shown as a water heater structure employing aboiler and a refractory material jacket therefor, wherein a novel meansis made use of for directing the heat of a fuel burner against the lowerpart of the boiler and completely around the same and for maintainingthe heated products of combustion in close contact with the wall of theboiler throughout the length of the same whereby the maximum heatingaction will be obtained from the heating fuel employed, withoutsubjecting the boiler itself to the direct contact of the burner flame.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a water heatingstructure of the character above set forth, novel means for heating theboiler contents in such manner that the rapid establishment ofconvection currents is brought about along the inner surface of the wallof the boiler and completely around such inner surface so that the wateris turned over or changed from the central part of the tank to theoutside from a cold start, from three to five times before the desiredtemperature is reached as a result of which all of the water reaches thedesired temperature from the top to the bottom of the tank atpractically the same time.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a water heater ofthe character stated, a novel means for applying heat to a water boilerabove the bottom of the same and in an encircling belt in such mannerthat the maximum effect of the heat developed is obtained for raisingthe temperature of the contents of the boiler without applying a heatingflame directly thereto and also in such manner that the formation anddeposit of sediment in the bottom of the boiler cannot in any mannerinterfere with the heating of the contents by acting as an insulator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description of the same proceeds and the invention will be bestunderstood from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of thisspecification, with the understanding, however, that the invention isnot to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of thedrawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes ormodifications mark no material departure from the salient features ofthe invention as expressed in-the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view invertical section through a water heater constructedto illustrate the application of the heat transfer means constitutingthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the structure with the head or top wallof the outside jacket removed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the inner side of the upper end of therefractory liner showing the heat deflector or baflle ribs.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designatesa vertically disposed water boiler which is supported upon the legs 2threadably attached to the bottom of the boiler by the couplings 3whereby, through turning of the legs, the boiler may be brought to aperfectly vertical or level position. part of the boiler isprovided witha central cleanout or drain opening 4 having a coupling 5 connectedtherewith to which may be attached a suitable carry-off pipe. At the topof the boiler bossed threaded outlets 6 and 1 are provided for end-ofthis jacket there is secured to the jacket the annular gas manifold IIwhich encircles the tank I above the bottom thereof, as shown. Fig. 1shows one half of this manifold, the same being in the presentillustration in two parts and each of the parts has formed integrallywith the top surface upwardly directed burner nozzles l3 and with eachpart there is connected a pipe section M which is joined by standardconnections with a supply line 14'. The passage of gas through'thissupply line is controlled by a standard type of thermostaticallyoperated valve unit I5 with which is connected the usual thermostat 16which extends through the wall of the tank toward the longitudinalcenter thereof. ,A

The lowermeet 'contact with the flame.

which, as shown in Fig. 1, engage the top of thetank and coact tosupport the jacket in spaced relation therewith.

Overlying the inner surface of the jacket above the burner manifold is arelatively'thick liner of refractory material which is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 2| and which is divided into two portions orsections, each of which sections is carried by a section of the jacket.Theinner surface of this liner lies in relatively close proximity to thewall of the tank from the upper end of the tank downwardly through themajor, portion of the lengthof the same to provide a relatively narrowannular gas escape passage 22, and the inner surface of the liner hasformed integrally therewithth'e upwardly and circumferentially directeddeflector ribs 2-2. Through a portion of its length from the lower end,the refractory liner 2| is recessed'to form the relatively widecombustion area or chamber 23,

at the upper-end of which the refractory material is formed to providethe upwardly and inwardly inclined heat deflecting shoulder 24. Theburners lie within and are directed upwardlyin this combustion area andthe deflector ribs'terminate at the upper part of the shoulder 24'.

The wall surface of the combustion area or chamber 23 has fixed thereinthroughout the height of the chamber, upwardly and inwardly extendingheat radiants or pins 25, formed ;of refractory material, the free endsof these radiants coming in close proximity to the wall, ;of thetank.These .pins or radiants serve to direct heat inwardly toward the wall ofthe tank, by which arrangement the wall of the tank will receive themaximum effect of the heat developed by the burning gas issuing from theburners and the wall of the tank Will not be subjected to di- Inaddition, since the flame does not contact the wall of the tank, thecombustion temperature of the gas will not be lowered and, therefore,the formation of carbon will be reduced to a minimum or completelyeliminated as a result of the complete burning jacket and liner maybeformed in more than two sections if desired, or that the principles ofthe present invention as embodied in theconstruction and disposition ofthe combustion chamber, the heat radiants, flue passage and deflectorribs, with the disposition of the burner ring around the tank within themetal jacket,

may be embodied in a single or one-piece jacket within which the tankmay be positioned. In the present two-part construction illustrated,

the two portions of the manifold l2 will be secured each in the lowerportion of a metal jacket so that the ends of the ring sections will bebrought into abutting relation when the jacket portions are assembled onthe tank, and these abutting ends of the gas manifold sections will beprovided with suitable coupling means such as the depending ears 26which may be joined together and secured by bolts 26', and also theadjacent ends of the two-part ring I 9 will be provided with ears 2!which are secured together by bolts 28. By this means, the assembling ofthe two sections, or three sections as the case may be, of the tankenveloping structure is facilitated and if desired, the two sections ofthis structure may be initially joined together by two or more hinges28', one of which is shown in Fig. 2.

Suitable recesses may be made in two abutting edges of the jacketsections to receive the thermostat element 16, so that when the sectionsare closed together about the tank, this element will be heldtherebetween' and a tight connection will be established between it andthe sections.

In order to maintian the tank enclosing structure in proper positionwith respect to the tank and also to relieve some of the strain upon thesupporting lugs 20, the tank may have one or more stud bolts 29 weldedthereto or otherwise secured to its outer surface to extend radiallytherefrom,'to pass through suitable openings in one of the sections ofthe tank enveloping structure. This section would naturally be firstapplied and mounted on the supporting stud bolts and the other sectionthen swung into position,

Where the sections are hinged together, or if the sections are mountedindependently of one another, then suitable bolts might be provided topass from the tank through each section.

The upper end of the jacket is covered by the cap or head plate 30 whichis spaced a substantial distance above the upper end of the tank andwhichjis provided with a central gas ,escape'opening .3! which iscovered by the back -draft preventing hood 32.

-It will be noted that the thermostat I6 is located within the tankadjacent the upper part of f-th combustion and heating chamber 23 as aresult of which a substantial amount of water will be'heated in thelower part of the tank and adjacent the wall before the gas valve isshut off.

' It will also'be notedthat the burners are above the bottom of the tankand that, as previously stated, the water circulation 'is upwardly alongthe inner side of the tank wall, being deflected back at the top centralpart of the tank, as indicated by the arrows. With this arrangement ofburner, the gradual collection of sediment in the bottom of the tank ispermitted without having the same interfere-with the eflicient heatingof the water, and when cleaning or flushing of the tank is necessarythis sediment can be readily drawn off through the discharge opening 4.

The present water heater is found to function much more efliciently thanwater heaters of other designs as a result of the novel manner in whichthe burner 'is located and in which the heat from the burner. isradiated inwardly toward "the wall of the tank by "the refractory jacketand the pins of refractory material which "line the wall of thecombustion chamber. As a result of this arrangement also the presentheater may be much more economically operated than heaters of othertypes where a large proportion of the heat from the burner is lostbecause no means is provided for directing it in toward and bringing itinto contact with the wall of the tank. With the present structuralarrangement practically every square inch of tank wall surface above theburner-is contacted by the heat from the burner instead'of having only asmall area at the bottom of the tank contacted by the burnerheat orflame as in ordinary water heaters.

Due to the formation of the combustion chamber, that is, the narrownessof this chamber, the flame of the burning gas is lengthened so that anincreased amount of the tank area is covered or contacted by the directheat from the burning flame and, therefore, the absorption of the heatby the tank content is much more thorough and less heat escapes throughthe outlet.

By the provision of the obliquely directed heat deflector ribs orbaffles 22', the stratification of the gases in passing lengthwise ofthe tank is prevented and such gases are kept in contact with the tank alonger period than would be the case if they passed directly upwardly,thus giving additional time for the absorption by the tank wall and thewater of all of the heating units in the gases.

It will be noted that in the water heater structure illustrated, a spaceis provided between the burner ring l2 and the water boiler or tank Ithrough which secondary air for the burners may pass, such air inflowing upwardly over the surface of the boiler coming between theboiler and the flame and thereby serving to prevent direct contact ofthe flame with the boiler. It will be readily apparent also that ifadditional air is required, the jacket may be provided with suitable airapertures.

While the novel heat transfer means of the present invention has beenillustrated as being applied particularly to a water heater of thedomestic or industrial type, it is to be understood that the inventionis not to be limited to this specific application as it will be readilyapparent that the heating means may be employed in connection with steamboilers, stills or any other structures where a heat transfer isdesired.

What is claimed is:

1. In a water heater of the character described, an elongated verticallydisposed water tank, a

cylindrical jacket of refractory material encircling said tank andextending from the upper end thereof to a point closely adjacent thelower end, a cylindrical outer jacket enclosing said first jacket andprojecting above and below the same, a cover overlying the upper end ofthe tank and joined to the upper edge of said outer jacket and having anoutlet for the escape of products of combustion, means coupled with theupper ends of said jackets for engaging the top of the tank for thesupport of the jackets therefrom,

the said first jacket being of an interior diameter from its upper endthrough the major portion of its length slightly greater than theoverall diameter of the tank whereby is formed a narrow passageway andthen being of increased interior diameter to the lower end of the firstjacket to form an annular combustion chamber around the tank, aplurality of burner units disposed in encircling relation with the lowerpart of the tank and within said chamber, said units being in a planeabove the bottom of the tank, means for supplying fuel to said units,and means disposed within and extending throughout the circular extentof said combustion chamber for deflecting heat upwardly and inwardlyfrom the refractory material wall of the chamber toward the tank.

2. In a water heater of the character described, an elongated verticallydisposed water tank, a cylindrical jacket of refractory materialencircling said tank and extending from the upper,

end thereof to a point closely adjacent thelower end, a cylindricalouter jacket enclosing said first jacket and projecting above and belowthe same, a cover overlying the upper end of the tank and joined to theupper edge of said outer jacket and having an outlet for the escape ofproducts of combustion, means coupled with the upper ends of saidjackets for engaging the top of the tank for the support of the jacketstherefrom,

. the said first jacket being of an interior diameter from its upper endthrough the major portion of its length slightly greater than theoverall diameter of the tank whereby is formed a narrow passageway andthen being of increased interior diameter to the lower end of the firstjacket to form an annular combustion chamber around the tank, aplurality of burner units disposed in encircling relation with the lowerpart of the tank and within said chamber, said units being in a planeabove the bottom of the tank, means for supplying fuel to said units,and means disposed within and extending throughout the circular extentof said combustion chamber for deflecting heat upwardly and inwardlyfrom the refractory material wall of the chamber toward the tank, saidlast means consisting of a plurality of pin members of refractorymaterial.

3. A water heater, comprising a tank, a jacket of relatively thickrefractory material encircling the tank and extending throughoutsubstantially the entire length thereof, the jacket being in relativelyclosely spaced relation with the wall of the tank from its upper enddownwardly to a predetermined horizontal level and then recessed fromsaid level to its lower end to form in conjunction with the tank acombustion chamber, a burner unit encircling the tank at the lower endof the combustion chamber, a gas outlet leading from the upper end ofthe area between the jacket and the tank, said burner being disposed ina plane above the lower end of the tank, and heat deflecting ribsdisposed upon the inner surface of the jacket from the upper enddownwardly to said level and extending obliquely of the length of thetank.

EZRA L. ESTES.

